Monday, December 28, 2015

Roseburg-Sutherlin Christmas Bird Count--Dec 19, 2015

After a series of heavy rains, we had a pleasant day of little or no precipitation for the Christmas Bird Count (CBC). Fourteen teams totaling 31 people, and three feeders with 4 counters, counted a total of 19,696 birds comprising 116 species (ave 110 species, max 120). A google map of the count circle and team areas is here. Click on the following links to see bird species found on the count, sorted by taxonomy, total number of each species, or number of team areas in which each species was found. For additional information, see the Umpqua Birds CBC page.

Early morning owlers Keith Phifer, Cara Farr, and
Matt Hunter worked hard to drum up just a few owls: 4 GREAT
HORNED OWLS, 3 WESTERN-SCREECH-OWLS, and 1 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL. Two
BARN OWLS were located during daylight hours this year in their namesake dwellings. BARRED OWL
has yet to be recorded on the Roseburg-Sutherlin CBC!

No all-time new species were found for this count, which has been run for 42 consecutive winters, but several were found that previously had only been detected on the count 5 times or less, including: NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (1 previous record) found by Jim Hein and Sue Rummer in a neighborhood out Fisher Rd.; AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN (2 previous records) found by Cara Farr and Matt Hunter at Ford's Pond, where it had been for several weeks; HERRING GULL (4 previous records, but now regular in Nov/Dec) at Stewart Park Wildlife Ponds by Keith Phifer, Mike Brinkley, and Claudia Lapham; and PACIFIC LOON (5 previous records) by Bob and Jeannie Pollock at Loosely's Pond off Old Del Rio Rd.

Other unusual finds on the count were LARK SPARROW (Jimmy Billstine in Winchester), both COMMON and BARROW'S GOLDENEYE (Robin and Holly Hartmann on the North Umpqua River), MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE (Mikeal Jones and Jim Arneson at Plat I, and Jimmy Billstine at a feeder in Winchester), SAY'S PHOEBE (Matt Hunter and Cara Farr, stakeout bird on Ft. McKay Rd), and SWAMP SPARROW (Matt Hunter and Cara Farr at Ford's Pond).

Lark Sparrow at feeder along Page Road (Photo by Jimmy Billstine)

Barrow's (center) and Common (right) Goldeneyes on North Umpqua River (Photo by Robin Hartmann)

'Stakeout' Say's Phoebe a week or so before the CBC (Photo by Matt Hunter)

Species missed that have been recorded on at least 30 previous counts were: GREEN HERON, CEDAR WAXWING, and PURPLE FINCH.

We all had a great time seeking out and finding some of our wonderful more regular local birds. Look through the photos below contributed by several CBCers and you'll see why we look forward to doing this each year.

White-breasted Nuthatch (Photo by Liz Gayner)

Immature Sharp-shinned Hawk (Photo by Liz Gayner)

Male Red-winged Blackbird at feeder (Photo by Liz Gayner)

Red-shouldered Hawk (Photo by Liz Gayner)

Merlin (Photo by Liz Gayner)

Male Downy Woodpecker (Photo by Liz Gayner)

A view at North Bank Habitat Management Area (Photo by Robin Hartmann)

Common Raven 'escorting' a Golden Eagle through the air space (Photo by Robin Hartmann)

Pileated Woodpecker (Photo by Robin Hartmann)

Northern Flicker on pine (Photo by Robin Hartmann)

Pine Siskin on teasel (Photo by Robin Hartmann)

At the end of the day we enjoyed friends, warm food, beverages, and stories of the day. I hope you'll join us next year. Mark your calendar for next year's Roseburg-Sutherlin Christmas Bird Count: December 17, 2016!